Competitive Exams: Current Affairs 2011: Muslim Brotherhood

Muslim Brotherhood

The Society of the Muslim Brothers (often simply The Brotherhood or MB) is an Islamic transnational movement and the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states.

It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna.

The Muslim brotherhood started off as a social organization, preaching Islam, teaching the illiterate, setting up hospitals, and even launched commercial enterprises. As it continued to rise in influence, starting in 1936, it began to oppose British rule in Egypt.

Many Egyptian nationalists accuse the Brotherhood of violent killings during this period.

After the 1948 Arab defeat in the First Arab-Israeli war, the Egyptian government dissolved the organization and arrested its members; its founder was assassinated.

After the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, which was supported by the Brotherhood, it was once again banned and repressed.

Though the Brotherhood spread to other countries, it was suppressed there too: In 1982, Syria violently crushed a Brotherhood revolt (the Hama massacre).

Starting in the 1980s it entered Egypt's political arena, forming alliances with other parties, and fielding independent candidates.

When in 2005, the Brotherhood won 20% of the seats, Hosni Mubarak cracked down on the group.

As of 2011, the Brotherhood took an active part in the Egyptian protests